Is digital really necessary for me? (2024)

Hi @dannydma welcome to the forums. While Easton appears analog Bristol County is digital trunked Motorola Type II, as is Mass State Police. You should also know that the majority of LE are moving from analog to digital, if not now within the next few years. That said, I'm not in your state and hopefully @ecps92 or someone in your neighborhood will respond.

You can still get all of the local Police and Fire around you with those scanners I have them.
also you can still get Mass State PD analog I listen to 857.7125 troop H 854.3625- 856.7125-857.9875 854.1875 plus a few others 857.7125 is real busy after 2pm on.

Good luck Steve

Easton police and fire are both analog. Brockton, Stoughton are also analog. The Bridgewaters police are digital, but fire is still analog. Sharon is analog. Mansfield police is digital. MSP is currently analog, but they are trunked which neither of the scanners you mention will receive. That system is scheduled to move to a digital trunk in a couple of years.

A lot depends on what you want to listen to.

Keep in mind also that as agencies by new equipment, especially police, more and more will move to digital.

A viable option for you might be the Uniden BCD325P2, again depending on what you want to listen to.

Police officers and firefighters generally know next to nothing about the radios they use every day.

The anwser is NO ! There is tons of stuff to listen to than the local Donut runs and Bump and Boo Boo calls !
Get the 125 with Alpha tagging and learn how to use it and see if you enjoy this hobby.
Then If you find it fun get a Digital Radio.

Pete N1EXA

RaleighGuy said:

Hi @dannydma welcome to the forums. While Easton appears analog Bristol County is digital trunked Motorola Type II, as is Mass State Police. You should also know that the majority of LE are moving from analog to digital, if not now within the next few years. That said, I'm not in your state and hopefully @ecps92 or someone in your neighborhood will respond.

Bristol County, Massachusetts (MA) Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference

Scanner Frequencies and Radio Frequency Reference for Bristol County, Massachusetts (MA)

www.radioreference.com

Bristol County Trunking System, Taunton, Massachusetts

Bristol County Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Massachusetts State Police Trunking System, Statewide, Massachusetts

Massachusetts State Police Trunking System Profile

www.radioreference.com

Click to expand...

MA state Police is still Analog but TRUNKED. Bristol Cnty is digital in certain parts. RI is digital. For local areas the BC 125 / 75 will do, but if you are looking to monitor the SPD you will need at least an analog trunking scanner.

dannydma said:

Hi, new to scanners and wife was going to get me a cheap one BC75XLT ($70-80) or the BC125AT($120). I don't think there is a lot of digital in my area, which is town of Easton in Bristol County in Massachusetts, if I'm reading the chart correctly. I called the Police Dept and he had no clue. Everywhere I look, including here, everyone seems to say everybody is going digital (and some posts go back to 2014! Just wondering if it's really a necessity to listen to local police and fire? I don't think I could justify $400 and up for some casual listening. Thank you!

Click to expand...

The trend, both nationwide and in MA, is for public safety to move toward digital systems both trunked and conventional. For this reason, I'd strongly suggest that any new radios that you purchase be digital capable. I haven't bought a radio that isn't digital capable in 15 years.

Gordon

20 or so years for me. The BC785D was the first, followed by a BC250D, followed by a BC796D, then of course the BC296D. Then on to the DMA scanners!

gordon115 said:

The trend, both nationwide and in MA, is for public safety to move toward digital systems both trunked and conventional. For this reason, I'd strongly suggest that any new radios that you purchase be digital capable. I haven't bought a radio that isn't digital capable in 15 years.

Gordon

Click to expand...

Nascar18 said:

Probably the best option would have been the Uniden BCT15X ($219.00) . It would have given you the trunking option of receiving the MSP.

Click to expand...

You can get them used way cheaper than $219. I recently saw a new open box one go for about $100. I bought a 2nd one a few years back for $100 shipped, still with the plastic on the screen. Even in 2012 I bought one used but nearly new for $125.

I live in northern Bristol Co and you really aren't missing a whole lot being analog only IMO. At most I listen to Mansfield and N Attleboro police for digital. The ICE system seems to be 80% school bus "van pool" activity on most days. It's pretty quiet on weekends. Those Bearcom systems are pretty quiet all days. I would recommend owning at least 1 digital scanner (one that can handle P2 and DMR; do not pay the ridiculous $200+ prices for 396T/XT that you see on Ebay) but there's tons to listen to on analog still.